TEN THINGS

Ten Things To Know About Via de Cristo Faith Community

A SIMPLER CHRISTIANITY

The footprints above reflect a very simple idea, ...and a simpler expression of Christianity, ...namely that a "follower" of Jesus today might be particularly attentive to where the footprints of Jesus went. Where did he go, and what did he do? What is the essence of this Jesus that we view through the windows of Scripture, and history, and our own experience? How does a "follower" become the feet, ...and the hands, ...and the eyes of Jesus in our world? ...embodying this Way of Christ, ...this Via de Cristo?

PROGRESSIVE CHRISTIANITY

"Progressive Christianity" is an immense umbrella term, covering an huge and diverse spectrum of ideas and practices worldwide. On one hand, it might simply suggest the notion of faith journeys in motion, as they are for most of us. The two works, The Phoenix Affirmations and the 8 Points of Progressive Christianity, provide a sense of that larger "tent" of progressive Christianity.

In a cosmic picture, we are awfully small creatures in what amounts to tiny sliver of both time and space. Yet we are also uniquely "awake" and adapted to living and acting in this space. So we're inclined to think that it is for this time and place we "are", whatever we may speculate about what lies beyond this life.

As Christians, we have found the example and teachings of Jesus a particularly approachable and graceful way to "be", engaging this life and those around us constructively, redemptively, and compassionately, We are particularly attentive to matters of social justice and the disadvantaged in our larger community. Together we are working out how to be the affirming and boundaryless loving presence of Jesus in the world and times in which we find ourselves. ​

DIVERSE UNDERSTANDINGS

We are sometimes asked, "what do you believe". In this, we differ substantially from the ground up from more traditional congregations that define and differentiate themselves by certain understandings and practices held in common.

We are not drawn together around any particular creed or dogma or doctrine, Instead, we are an inclusive community, enriched by our varied religious (and non-religious!) backgrounds, and by our diversities in spiritual understandings and experience. We are drawn into community around one broader question: "Where do Jesus' footsteps lead us today?" Though we began as a United Methodist fellowship years ago, we are now denominationally independent, drawing the circle of community wider still.

It is because we arrive at this "Jesus' footsteps" question from so many different directions that we are in many ways, "a church for the rest of us." We are a more relaxed fit for many than more sharply-defined mainstream traditions. Some have also found in Via de Cristo a kind of spiritual oasis, an affirming place to rest for a season, ...or ponder, ...or recover. We're good with that too.

​We are a active, curious and learning people, …most with faith journeys that are works-in-progress. So we are interested in the broader history of our faith, as well as contemporary theological thought. Occasionally, may hear echoes of an earlier time in your own journey, …or perhaps a new “way” that does not rest easy with you. These are evidences of our diversities, which we strive to recognize, respect, …and best of all, learn from as we walk and talk together.

LGBTQ

​It's simply never been a "thing" with us. Welcome!

OPEN TO QUESTIONS

We are a "Living the Questions" people. We are explorers of the depths, and of the broader landscapes of our Christianity, in conversation about the many questions that emerge in this evolving spiritual journey. Two of our former pastors (including the founding pastor of Via de Cristo), are creators of the "Living The Questions" books and DVD-based discussion series for progressive Christians. So it is our second nature to invite, study, and ponder the deeper, even troubling questions encountered in our spiritual walks, ...where it is sometimes good to have company for conversation.

​“Be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves, like locked rooms and like books that are now written in a very foreign tongue. Do not now seek the answers, which cannot be given you because you would not be able to live them. And the point is, to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps you will then gradually, without noticing it, live along some distant day into the answer.” ― Rainer Maria Rilke

OPEN TO SCHOLARSHIP

The idea of sacred and secular as two different things has faded for most of us. Our experience is that on-going revelation flows from both the voices of scripture and Spirit, and the voices of science and history and critical thought, ...and that their overlapping is ultimately not a place of contradiction. That said, our earlier understandings can certainly be challenged by new insight and understanding, and nagging questions may well remain. It's a familiar part of the journey.

COMMUNION

The communion table is intentionally front and center in our services. It is Jesus' invitation that draws us – all of us – to this table of remembrance. And so here at Via de Cristo it is open to all who find it meaningful. Our individual communion experiences may differ from one another, but this is common ground, ...even sacred ground. Here we leave behind all else that divides us or distracts us, allowing us to take our place in a very long line of other brothers and sisters, past and present, who have chosen to walk in this Via de Cristo, and respond to this invitation to remembrance.

Communion concludes each Sunday's service, observed in a simple format with language of invitation and openness.

ORGANIZATION

Our organization is pretty unique. Though we are a small congregation, two accomplished and engaging pastors in active retirement have teamed up to coordinate their availabilities to bring our Sunday messages and provide pastoral care. To make this work well for them, we have freed them to focus on these two things: (1) to lead in teaching, exhorting, inspiring and challenging us through Sunday morning messages (and often the subsequent discussion time), and (2) to provide pastoral support to the congregation and to planning as needed. Anything else is volitional, and our congregation takes care of the rest.

Steve and Len coordinate schedules and themes for sharing the pulpit during the school year. This pastoral arrangement allows us to benefit from two extraordinary, quite different but complementary pastoral presences, two different voices, and the synergy of their two individual interests and journeys. At the same time, this unique arrangement gives them the freedom to also coordinate time for personal and family enjoyment of their active retirements. How fortunate we are that they are also sharing in this sometimes remarkable adventure of Via de Cristo Faith Community.

To tie this all together, we have a small church council and a few informal teams focused on key planning and organizational tasks. This is made possible through remarkably high congregational volunteer and ministries engagement.

In the summer, our Sunday messages follow a different pattern we call Summer Semester. We shift to a broadened spectrum of invited speakers with an emphasis on insights from personal passions, expertise, and experience.

MUSIC

Via de Cristo has a tradition of extraordinary keyboard musicians drawn from the jazz community. Our vocal leadership combines with a distinctive community approach to morning music that's sorta hard to explain, but very enjoyable. Via de Cristo's music is a rich blend of traditional and more recent music, sacred and occasionally secular, lovingly arranged by our music team.

FOOD, FELLOWSHIP, AND FIRST FRIDAYS

Our tradition embraces good food and warm fellowship. The well-attended First Friday potlucks each month have been a constant and important ingredient in fostering our community bonds, allowing us to know each other beyond our Sunday presences. Via de Cristo women also meet as the Women's Book Club and monthly Women, Wine, and Wisdom gathering. Our men enjoy weekly solve-the-world's-problems gatherings at Friday Prime Time (except for First Friday) at a local pub.